**US and Georgia Support Ukraine at Defense Meeting**
On January 9, the Georgian Ministry of Defense reported that Georgia’s Defense Minister, Irakli Chikovani, is attending a meeting in Germany. This meeting is part of the 25th Ukraine Defense Contact Group.
The US Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, opened the meeting to discuss how countries can work together to help Ukraine during its ongoing war. As this was his last time leading the meeting, he wanted to make sure that all countries are on the same page when it comes to helping Ukraine.
At the meeting, President Austin announced a new package of military aid for Ukraine worth $500 million. This package includes:
* More missiles for Ukrainian air defense
* Ammunition and equipment to support Ukraine’s F-16 fighter jets
This announcement was made just one week before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on January 20. Trump has said he wants to end the conflict in Ukraine quickly.
The Ukraine Defense Contact Group is a group of countries that come together to discuss how they can help Ukraine. The group includes defense chiefs and high-ranking officials from many different countries, including NATO member states and most EU nations.
